Windmill



J. FIBARKER. Windmill.

No. 223,308. Patented Jan. 6, 1880.

FIG. 1

1 a a e E e p? 1 1V 'l M 4 57/ O a a fi m n M c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. BARKER, OF SAN FBANOISOO, CALIFORNIA.

WIMDMILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,308, dated January 6,-1880.

Application filed May 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN F. BARKER, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented an Improved Windmill; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in windmills; and my improvement consists in providing a frame which rotates in a horizontal plane, and which carries on its arms a series of pivoted fans so arranged as to automatically present their edges or faces to the wind during the revolution of the wheel, so that the wind-pressure will be exerted on one side of the wheel, in combination with braces, rests, and levers, whereby the action of the fans is automatically regulated, as is more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a modification.

Let A represent the base or foundation of the mill, and B .the vertical shaft rotating in suitable journals on the base. On this shaft are fastened the arms composing the frame 0, which rotates with the shaft. 011 each arm is placed a fan or wing, D, pivoted above and below at one corner, as shown at d, so as to swingfreely 011 its pivots. These fans are preferably beveled oft toward the outer edges, so that they will readily swing on the pivots.

Behind each fan, on each arm, is a brace, E, pivoted, as shown at e, in both upper and lower arm of the frame 0. Extending from each of these braces at right anglesis a rest, F, which is made about the width of the fan, so that the fan may rest against it. At right angles with this rest, and attached to the brace, is a leverarm, G, on the end of which is a cord, b,leading through a ring or pulley, c, on the spindle or shaft B, and having a weight, H, attached to its end, as shown.

The operation of my device is as follows: The fans on one side of the mill swing parallel with the arms of the frame and lie against the rests on the pivoted braces, the weight attached to the lever preventing the braces swin ging on their pivots. As the frame or wheel 0 revolves in a horizontal plane, and the fans also revolve on a horizontal plane by means of their pivots, when the fan passes farther on, bearing against the rest on the base, the wind strikes its edge and it swings away from the brace, the broad edge then going forward. The fan thus presents an edge to the wind, while those on the opposite side present a broad face. As the wheel is still farther revolved the fan again swingsback to its first position against the rest on the brace, so as to furnish a surface to the wind to rotate the wheel. In this way the wheel and shaft are TGVOIWBCI, and a pump or other article may be operated by suitable connections.

It will be seen that the mill automatically adjusts itself to the force of the wind. In a strong breeze the fans will press on the rests so as to swing the braces on their pivots, liftin g up the weights, so that the fans will be at an angle to the wind proportionate to its force. In a very strong breeze the fans would push the rests transverse 'to the arms, and all be with their edges to the wind.

When it is desired to stop the action of the mill, by lifting up the weights attached to the cord on its lever the brace will be allowed to swing so that the rest will come awayfrom the fan. This will allow the fans to swing edgewise to the wind, and the mill will be stopped.

One or more fans may be placed on each arm, if desired, each having an independent brace, rest, lever, and weight, and one circle may be thrown out of the wind at any time. They may be arranged also in tiers, one over the other, when great power is desired, the same general arrangement being carried out as described. The fans control themselves and adjust their surfaces automatically in accordance with the pressure of the wind.

In light mills I can dispense with the braces, with their rests and levers, and control the fans by means of a cord and weight. In this case I attach the cord 1) to the outer edge of the fan,

' lead it through an eye, f, on the following upright connecting-piece between the upper and lower arm of the frame, and thence lead it through the eye 0 on the shaft, using a weight as counter-balance. In this way the weight and cord will hold the fan to the wind on one The momentit swings back the cord and weight IO F, levers G, cords b, and Weights H, whereby the action of the fans is automatically regulated, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN F. BARKER.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, a FRANK A. BROOKS. 

